Southern California -- this just in

Questions about The Game's tweet that overwhelmed sheriff's station

August 12, 2011 | 11:42
pm

Was the rapper The Game's Twitter account hacked?

Los Angeles County sheriff's officials have opened a criminal investigation into whether the rapper sent out a tweet containing a number for the Compton station, which resulted in jammed emergency phone lines for at least two hours Friday night.

But after the Los Angeles Times published a blog post online, The Game sent a tweet to the newspaper saying: "it wasn't me (shaggy voice)." He suggested that his Twitter account had been hacked by someone else.

In another tweet, he suggested it was an accident: "Yall can track a tweet down but cant solve murders ! Dat was an accident but maybe now yall can actually do yall job !!!! #iSpeak4ThePeople"

Although The Game's account has been verified by Twitter, it is unclear whether he was the person tweeting. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Sheriff's Department said the problems began after 5 p.m. when The Game sent a tweet to his 580,000 followers encouraging them that if they wanted an internship with him, they should call the phone number, said sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.

"This was beyond irresponsible," Parker said. "The deputies' ability to answer the phones and dispatch personnel to help these people in danger was significantly impeded."

Parker sent his own tweet to the rapper telling him to delete the original tweet because it was compromising public safety.